CBI director post lying vacant: PM-led panel to meet on Monday to select chief

New Delhi: A three-member committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet on Monday to decide on the chief of the country's premier probe agency CBI. The post of CBI director is lying vacant for over one month following Anil Sinha's retirement on December 2. Gujarat-cadre IPS interim director At present, Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana is the interim director of the investigating agency. The selection committee has Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Justice of India or his nominee as its other members. List of about 45 eligible IPS officers has been sent A list of about 45 eligible IPS officers has been sent to the Prime Minister's Office for consideration as next CBI director, official sources said today. Strong contenders for CBI chief 's post The name of senior IPS officers Krishna Choudhary, Aruna Bahuguna and S C Mathur, among others are doing the rounds as strong contenders for the top post, they said. Choudhary and Bahuguna are 1979 batch IPS officers of Bihar and Telangana cadre respectively. Chaudhary is Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force and Bahuguna is Director of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad. Mathur, a 1981 batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre, is working with Maharashtra State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation Ltd. About CBI The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the country. It also serves as the nation's prime federal law enforcement agency. CBI operates under the jurisdiction of the Government of India. It is overseen by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of the Federal government, headed by a Cabinet Minister who reports directly to the Prime Minister of India.